BIOGRAPHY

Warren Kenji Berkey is an artist, writer, filmmaker, and new media producer.

Born in Santa Monica, CA and raised throughout the Greater Los Angeles area, Warren studied studio art - painting and sculpture - at the University of California, Berkeley where he graduated with his Bachelor's degree in 2000. 

In 2003, Warren packed up his van and moved east to attend New York University's Graduate Film program.  While at NYU, Warren immersed himself in all phases of film and media production - from writing and directing, to cinematography, editing, and art direction. Warren twice received a Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television Departmental Fellowship and was selected as the school's graduate nominee for the Princess Grace Award in 2006.  He graduated with his M.F.A. in 2007.

Warren's short films have screened at film festivals in New York City and Los Angeles, and his music video for Chimp Beams - a Brooklyn-based Japanese electro/dub trio - was broadcast nationally on Japan's Space Shower T.V.

Warren has also worked professionally as a freelance designer, videographer, editor, and web producer.  

He now lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife and their cat who's convinced he speaks English.

SCREENING HISTORY
Midnight Movie, LAist.com, 2008
First Run Film Festival, 2008
Vine Shorts Fest, 2007
L.A. Filmmaker Showcase, L.A. Shorts Fest, 2007
Space Shower T.V., Japanese Music Television, 2006
Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, 2006
First Run Film Festival, 2006
Japanese Community & Cultural Center of Northern California, 2002

AWARDS / GRANTS
California Civil Liberties Public Education Program Grant for Documentary / New Media, 2008
Outstanding Art Direction, First Run Film Festival, 2008
Outstanding Editing, First Run Film Festival, 2008
Princess Grace Award nominee, 2006
Achievement in Experimental Form Award, First Run Film Festival, 2006
Maurice Kanbar Institute of Television & Film, Departmental Fellowship, 2004 - 2006
Honors Studio Award, 1999 - 2000
Best Personality, 5th Grade - 1989

EDUCATION
New York University, Tisch School of the Arts - New York, NY
M.F.A., Film Production, 2007

University of California, Berkeley - Berkeley, CA
B.A., Art Practice, 2000

ARTIST STATEMENT
It's an exciting time for filmmaking and media production.  Digital technology and a global on-line community have opened up an infinite array of new possibilities for creative expression.

But there's still a ways to go.

We, the next generation of filmmakers, moving image artists, and media producers must have the vision, creative flexibility, technological understanding and storytelling ability to seek out and establish new channels for our work to be seen.  Only then will this young art form truly come to reflect the richness and diversity we've all been waiting for.

Let's make it happen!